Manasquan Inlet - surf spot statistics

Manasquan Inlet is a surf spot largely dominated by wind swells, with ground swells being relatively rare. The best months for surfing here are typically late summer and early fall, specifically from **August to October**, when ground swell activity increases slightly and wind conditions improve marginally. September stands out with 20% ground swell occurrence—the highest of the year—alongside reduced no-swell days (19%) and a mean swell size of 0.8m, offering more consistent rideable waves. While wind conditions remain suboptimal (71% bad winds even in September), this period still provides the best balance between swell energy and surfable days. Winter and early spring (November to March) bring choppier conditions due to strong onshore winds (bad wind conditions exceeding 80%) and smaller, wind-driven swells. Summer months (May to July) see a drop in swell size (0.6-0.8m) and persistent bad wind conditions (70-73%), though June and July offer slightly better wind windows (30-31% favorable winds). Overall, surfers can expect the most reliable sessions in late summer and early fall, but must contend with generally poor wind alignment year-round. The spot favors those comfortable with wind swell surf, as clean conditions are rare.

October at Manasquan Inlet offers surfable conditions, though with some variability. The average swell height is 0.8m with a decent 8.4s period, providing rideable waves, especially on days with favorable wind. The predominant swell direction is from the ESE (13.8% at 0.5-1m, 18.9% at 1-1.5m) and E (3.9% at 0.5-1m, 11.2% at 1-1.5m), which aligns well with the break. Larger swells (1.5m+) are less frequent but occur mostly from E and ESE directions, offering more powerful sessions. Wind conditions are only ideal for surfing 25% of the time, with lighter winds (0-20kph) being more common. Offshore or cross-offshore winds (NW, WNW) are infrequent but provide the best setup when they occur. Expect a mix of smaller, manageable waves and occasional punchier days, requiring patience to score the best sessions.